1950 Fort Worth TX Texas Leonards Department Store - Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1950 Fort Worth TX Texas Leonards Department Store - Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 9" x 12" (22.5 cm x 30.5 cm) each page
Condition: Good
TRADE WINDS
Ft. Worth Oil Slingers M/C
MOST motorcycle dealers have be-
come dealers as a result of keen
personal interest in motorcycling, either
as rider, mechanic or professional racer.
In Ft. Worth, Texas, however, there is
a successful lightweight motorcycle deal-
er whose business from the beginning
has been based on merchandising for
profit.
Leonards Department Store in Ft.
Worth is well known as a merchandiser
in almost every line. Their establishment
covers several city blocks and is an out-
standing example of aggressive service
to the public. Today almost any product
a person might wish in clothing, drugs,
farm machinery, automotive supplies,
sporting goods, toys, and home and per-
sonal equipment can be obtained at
Leonards.
Early in 1949 Leonards expanded
their Outdoor Store with the addition of
Powell cycles to other products handled
in this department, such as bicycles,
boats, outboard motors, etc.
In September 1949 Mustang light-
weight motorcycles were added and in
the past year have proven to be the
most popular machine handled. On the
average, at least one Mustang is sold
every week and some days after a new
shipment is received, two or three are
sold.
Of course any merchandising success
is based on individual effort. With Leo-
nards it has been Al Jones, manager of
the Outdoor Store, and Chester Tucker,
service manager, who have actively de-
veloped Leonards motorcycle department
with the helpful guidance of “Doc” St.
Clair, Zane Fields and Bob Leonard, op-
erational heads.
Rapid development of sales is no acci-
dent with Leonards. Beginning with a
substantial display of machines in stock
the firm uses all types of merchandis-
ing promotion.
During the past year a safety pro-
gram was pushed in conjunction with
LEONARDS
SELLS
LIGHTWEIGHTS
BECAUSE OF
MERCHANDISING
SKILL
AND
SERVICE
Federated Women’s Clubs. Encourag-
ment was given to a group of riders
who formed a lightweight motorcycle
club—the Oilslingers. This group has
sponsored rides and field events which
have been very well attended. Along
with these events the Oilslingers have
stressed safety and proper riding
Ft. Worth police have had a dim view
of the two-wheeled machines in traffic,
and the conduct of the Oilslingers and
other new lightweight riders is believed
to be developing police and public good-
will toward motorcycling in general.
A majority of the Mustang buyers
from Leonards this year are said to be
new to motorcycling. Thus Leonards is
demonstrating again the experience of
many successful California dealers, that
lightweight motorcycles are attractive
to new riders and are causing an ex-
pansion of the cycling market.
AL WEST VISITS
WEST COAST
L WEST, Indian Sales Manager, has
just completed a tour of the West
Coast, in company with “Nels” Nelson,
newly appointed Indian Pacific Coast
District Sales Manager. Al is extremely
optimistic over motorcycling in general
and Indian in particular.
The new Warrior T.T. is in full pro-
duction at Springfield, and, according
to Al, keeping the plant going at full
bore. That, to all motorcyclists, is good
news.
NEW PRODUCT PREVENTS
BATTERY CORROSION
BEFORE the war there were several
good compounds on the market for
the prevention of battery corrosion,
none of which seem to have been
brought back in the post-war period.
Now we learn that a paint-like solu-
tion has been developed by a Dallas,
Texas chemist and former battery manu-
facturer which, it is claimed, will pre-
vent this corrosion—the green, fungus-
like substance that bleeds or saps the
electrical energy from a battery and
which has been an economical headache
to the users of wet batteries everywhere.
This solution is marketed under the
trade-name of Sheeld, and is applied
with a stiff brush to the entire top of
the battery, including the terminals as
well as the cable ends and the battery
carrier. Two years have been devoted
to tests on all manner of commercial
vehicles throughout the southwest, where
this product is manufactured, and their
reports state that the product perma-
nently shields the protected areas from
corrosion and is effective on old as well
as new batteries.
“Motorcyclist” will be glad to forward
any inquiries regarding Sheeld to the
manufacturer.
AL KASER OF SUPERIOR
ACCESSORY MARRIES
LBERT “Al” Kaser, well known of-
ficial of the Superior Accessory Mfg.
Co. in Glendale, Calif., recently entered
the ranks of the “happily married.”
On October 11, 1950, at the First
Church of the Brethern, in Glendale, Na-
omi Ruth Beam, formerly of Johnstown,
Pa., was united in marriage to Mr. Ka-
ser by Rev. Van B. Wright. Miss Dorcas
Beam, sister of the bride, sang “Be-
cause” and “Always.” Mr. and Mrs.
Pierre Condit of Los Angeles, sister and
brother-in-law of the groom, attended
the couple.
“Al” attended the University of South-
ern California, and has been a co-owner
of the Accessory firm for the past eight
years. He is active in the Glendale
Lions Club, the Glendale Chamber of
Commerce, and is a member of the Phi
Kappa Psi Fraternity.
Mrs. Kaser has been employed at the
Superior Tool and Die Mfg. Co. as
bookkeeper.
Following a brief honeymoon in south-
ern California and Mexico, the couple
is making their home in Glendale.
BARNETT TOOL
EXPANDS LINE
HARLES Barnett of the Barnett
Tool and Engineering is offering
some new products in his line which
should be fast-moving on the shelves of
the dealers.
The items in question are Chrome
and Stainless Steel Battery Box and
Covers, of which the popular Stainless
Steel Battery Box will be remembered
as originally marketed by Vincent Mar-
tin. In taking over the production and
marketing of this accessory when Mr.
Martin retired from active participation
in the motorcycle business, Mr. Barnett
says he has greatly improved the former
model.
Barnett Tool and Engineering is one
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